KOLKATA — The full Bench of the Election Commission (EC), led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, is scheduled to arrive in West Bengal on Sunday night, March 8, 2026. This high-level visit, which was originally slated for March 9, has been advanced to allow the commission more time to conduct a comprehensive three-day assessment of the state’s readiness for the upcoming Assembly elections.
During the visit, the EC delegation will hold a series of intensive meetings with senior administrative and law-enforcement officials, including District Magistrates and Police Superintendents. A senior official from the State Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office confirmed that the primary objective is to review security arrangements, logistical preparedness, and the finalization of electoral rolls. The commission is also expected to meet with representatives of various political parties to address concerns regarding the poll process.
The timing of the visit is significant, as sources within the CEO’s office indicate that the official election schedule for West Bengal and four other states/Union territories could be announced as early as next week. While an exact date for the announcement has not been finalized, the arrival of the full Bench typically signals the final stage before the Model Code of Conduct is implemented.
On the ground, security measures are already being scaled up. A total of 240 companies of central paramilitary forces have already reached West Bengal in the first phase of deployment. These personnel have begun area-domination exercises and route marches across Kolkata and several sensitive districts to ensure a secure environment. Later today, West Bengal CEO Manoj Agarwal will chair a review meeting with district election officers to finalize the last-minute operational details.
